"The character mirrored my past"- T.O.P talks about playing Thanos in Squid Game 2

On January 15, KST, former BIGBANG member T.O.P, aka Choi Seung-hyun, gave his first media interview in eleven years. The interview published in the South Korean media outlet The Korea Times on January 15 was part of the promotions for Squid Game 2. He spoke about his role as Thanos, a rapper with drug issues, in the Netflix series.

The rapper-turned-actor revealed that playing Thanos was an intimidating challenge. He described the character as a reminder of his personal history, which he found difficult to confront.

"The offer to play Thanos was a daunting proposition. The character mirrored my past, reflecting aspects I'd rather keep hidden," he admitted.

He further shared that he initially hesitated to accept the role. His fear stemmed from being typecast due to the character’s similarities to his personal history. T.O.P referred to his 2017 sentencing for multiple instances of marijuana use.

"But destiny seemed to be pulling me in this direction," he added.

T.O.P further shared how his personal struggles made filming certain scenes difficult. Playing a character battling drug addiction forced him to confront his past.

"It was tough facing the shame about my own past when shooting the scene where Thanos is using drugs in front of hundreds of staff and actors," he admitted.

To prepare, T.O.P researched the effects of strong drugs. He learned that individuals addicted to such substances often suffer from dental damage, anxiety, and ADHD-like symptoms.

"I tried to act differently in scenes where Thanos had not yet used the drug versus those where he had," he mentioned.

He added physical details to enhance the role. Thanos’s damaged teeth and awkward demeanor were deliberate choices. He also drew inspiration from southern U.S. hip-hop’s "mumble rap" style. The actor shared that he tried to channel that in how Thanos delivers his lines.

Even Thanos’s rap was scripted to reflect his absurdity. T.O.P described it as childish, like something from Crayon Shin-chan.

"If you consider the mental age of the Thanos character, his rap had to be at the level of a literal child like Crayon Shin-chan. I tried to express the awkwardness of a hip-hop loser." he said.

Although T.O.P admitted he cringed at some scenes, he stayed committed to the character. "It was all for the role," he emphasized.

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T.O.P opens up about facing criticism for playing Thanos, isolation, healing through music, and hopes for a peaceful future

In the interview with The Korea Times published on January 15, the actor also addressed the criticism he received for his performance. Squid Game 2, released on December 26, sparked backlash from viewers and Korean media over his acting. Even his casting became a topic of controversy.

"I have to endure everything and accept it humbly," he stated speaking about the harsh reviews.

He explained that Thanos was meant to be a caricature-like character. This was a deliberate decision made after many discussions with the director.

"Thanos was not supposed to be a flashy or cool rapper, but a failed, hip-hop loser character. Since he was also a character who relied on drugs, he was meant to appear ridiculous and pathetic, so that’s how I set the character." T.O.P clarified.

The character was designed to bring levity to the dark tone of the series. He was depicted as unrealistic and comic-book-like.

"Some people said the character felt detached, but I had many discussions with the director and designed the character meticulously. When I read the script, I saw the character one that brought some relief to all the darkness and heaviness. It was depicted in such an unrealistic and comic book-like manner.," he said.

T.O.P reflected on his tumultuous 30s. He described it as a time of "lost years" filled with shame, self-loathing, and introspection.

"For the past seven years, I have lived almost isolated from society, spending most of my time at home and in my music studio." he shared. "Music was the only place where I could breathe, when I was composing music and standing in front of the microphone. I think I made music to survive."

T.O.P revealed that he created countless songs during this period, using music to process his inner turmoil. Looking ahead, T.O.P envisions a simpler life in his 40s. He expressed a desire for stability and peace, far removed from the drama of his earlier years.

"My primary goal is to establish a stable and less dramatic life," he stated. "I want to wake up without being bombarded by negative news and feel more at peace."

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T.O.P’s return in Squid Game 2 sparks debate over casting and past controversies

T.O.P, a member of the iconic K-pop group BigBang, debuted in 2006. In February 2022, he officially left the group after ending his contract with YG Entertainment. His final project with BigBang was the single Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, released in the same year.

Despite fans' hopes for a full-group reunion, T.O.P announced his retirement in a February 2020 live broadcast. He stated:

"I won't be coming back to Korea and I won't make a comeback (to the entertainment industry) at all."

However, the rapper-turned-actor recently returned as an actor in Netflix's Squid Game season 2, which was released last month. He plays the character Thanos, a retired rapper.

Thanos is portrayed as a once-successful musician who loses everything after investing in a cryptocurrency recommended by a YouTuber, Lee Myung-ki, played by Im Si-wan. Burdened by debt, Thanos joins the deadly game. The character also smuggles synthetic drugs into the game, hiding them in a necklace.

The character of Thanos drew criticism for its resemblance to the actor's real-life controversies, particularly his marijuana scandal during military service. Korean media highlighted the parallels, sparking debates about the casting decision.

Despite Squid Game 2 topping global charts for three weeks, T.O.P’s involvement was met with mixed reactions. His past controversies resurfaced, including his marijuana conviction in 2016, which resulted in a 10-month prison sentence and two years of probation. His earlier declaration that he would not return to Korea or the entertainment industry also added to the backlash.

Questions were raised about the casting of the former BigBang member for such a high-profile project. Critics speculated that his friendship with actors Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun influenced the decision. Both actors denied these claims, stating, "Casting is an abuse of an actor's authority." Director Hwang Dong-hyeok also addressed the rumors. As per news outlet OSEN, he clarified that T.O.P was chosen after multiple auditions, citing his potential despite some shortcomings.